The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-20
A RECORD OF HORRORS.
BRUTALITIEs WHICH HAVE MARKED
CONVICT FARMING IN MISSISSIPPI.
Ten Years OF the Leasing System-Ex-
tracts from ofncial Reports and
Sworn Testimony Tho Duty that
Rests Upon the Next Legislature.

SWOTn ltbNlinOny- luc buby tl'hV
Rests Upon the Next Legislature.
Correspondents 81 the Appeal
Holly SPRINGS, Miss, Nov lo.-In
1876, when the first Democratic, or white,
Legislature that had convened since the
war met in Jackson, the State capital, II
found itself face to face with the grayest
financial problems and perplexities. Tax.
alton was enormous, being at its constitu-
tional limit; the State was in debt moro
than 81 geo, 0p0, and all her public chart
ties and schools were languishing for want
Of pccuniary support. The Legislature,
therefore, began TO rctrcnch expenses in
every direction possible. Hence, almost
the very first act in this drama OF financial !
reform was statute authorizing the lcas.
ing out of the conyicts. Under il Jones
4. Hamilton and John l., Hebron became
the lcssecs, and agreed. not only 10 dcfray
all the expenses OF the pVnitentiary, but 10
pay the STATE VI 10 per head per month for
all over lao conyicis. They were permit.
tod 20 employ the conyicis In any charac-
ter of work they might choose, either in
side or outside the walls, and also 10 sub.
lease them TO the highest bidder. In fact,
the entire mental, moral and physical dies.
TIMES al the convicis were placed in the
hands OF the lcssecs and their guards. In
other words the State had sold in wards
into slavery.
Although from the very first year OF the
system dim riinus Of the most heart.
rending ngonica endured by the convicts
from brutal guards and sub.lcssces had
been bruited abroad, and begun 10 quicken
the con-cionccs OF the more conscientious,
the Legislature Of 1880 authorized six
years extension o. tho lease, and on Jan.
uary |, 1881, Jones X. Hamilton, under
whose previous management these crueltics
had occurred, again became the lessee OF
the pcnitcntiaTy. His privileges were the
same ar under the former lease, but the
State was TO receive annually $50, 40 for
che hire Of the conyicta.
The conwcis were employed by the
logscos in all manner Of work ON cotton
farms, railroads, lcyccs, etc. No matter
how toisomc or destructive 10 health aud
life, the conyicis were compelled 30 do
the work, provided there was dollar Ut
profit in 1t TO the lcssccs To the perform.
ancC of work that meant sure death these
slaves were driven 10y Hcourge and shot.
gun, and II became apparent that the reye-
nue. derived by the Siate from the pcni'
Tertiary was bought with agony aud blood
Even in the earliest years of the system
Gov. Stone, In his annual mcsstgc, felt
compelled 10 speak Of the enormous death.
rate OF the conyicts, but lac added that II
was due TO chronic discnsca contracted by
the prisoners previous TO their commit.
ment. The State superintendent Of the
pcniontiary explained the same fact by
the Slmc statement
But ON inspecting tho official reports OF
the lai'crollicrr. u b. aCcn that thiscnormous
death rate uniformly occus only among
the conyicis worked outside the walls who.
No arc told Ia thos-' same reports, were al.
ways the stouits, aud hcalihrst of the
prisoners. while among the diseased con.
yicis within the walls The death rate IL
comparatively small 1hissupcrintcndcnl,
Marion smith, undauniod 10y this death
rate, which sometimes amounted Ia A. per
cent. par annum, stated In all his reports
that the conyirls wcrc KINDLY and I'm.
NAMELY treated yet In Tables ubscurcly
appended 10 th,sn reports ] find the FOL.
loRing aud other similar items
Columbus Cook, Killed attempting Ia
escape July ~, 1873.
Wash Crusliy. drowned attempting IN
escape February \, 1878.
Harvey noRgil, k,iivi attempting 10
escape July 20, 1919.
Horny Gryson, drowned attempting 10
escape June 81, 1912
VIM. Robinson, hllcd attempting to ".
eapo DcrrmhUr \, 1871.
john Rogur, Killed attempting TO escape
June 3, 1914
Jacob sanders, drowned attempting To
escape February 4 1879.
lioni. Stewart, Killed attempting TO "a.
cape May ~, 1873.
John Williams, Killed attempting 10 CO.
capc May -, 1879.
VIM. Wright, died Of wounds received
while attempting Ia escape MAY -, 1872
The above u q literal extract irum pagJ
li0 OF The Mississippi department tCporl
Of 1850. fpiiorcd throughout the sam,
table Of deaths thcrc aru other simila
items ri con,icts killed aud drowned
while one, with no comment whatever. d
torscly reported to have been killed l.,
the accidental difchnrc Of gun. \,
ooronors jury II infuca, ever sat oyci To-
coUscs Ut ihOsr men. The convict guarl
shot them down, reported them killed
the superintendent cainl0guCd thoi
deaths and that WIS all. Some, "a,
so the legislative committee oi lSs
nid-who ,Ncm rCoricd ~ hayinl
escaped, had, In unlity, been shot 4,
pirctH hy ihvc guards. From these fact
Tie ruglrr can conclude whether SupCrin
tendcui Marion Smith vas justified II
saying thlt thc.e conyictH were kull
and humincly treated,
From thrsc mmc reports we make on
The following table VI annual death mlc
No. Of Cmyi,s. Iraths prsth l,au
VII l.ull - 81